Sport
What impact will Jadon Sancho have at Man Utd?
Man Utd have been aggressive in the transfer market so far, adding Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane after capturing the England international Jadon Sancho. Bringing in flying forward Sancho is a real statement of intent from Old Trafford, with United having also put more trust in manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who has signed a new deal.
Sancho quietly became a superstar at Borussia Dortmund, away from the limelight of the Premier League, and a £73 million fee for him could soon look like a remarkable bargain. Here is the impact Sancho can be expected to have for title contenders United this season.
What impact will Jadon Sancho have at Man Utd?
More firepower in tight games
United’s threat on the counter-attack is well known by now, but they did have some issues breaking down some lesser teams that set themselves up with lots of players behind the ball. The pace of Sancho means that United will cut teams open on the break even easier than before but the winger has enough skill and cunning to beat defenders one on one as well.
Results that cost United the chance to push rivals Manchester City harder for the title last term included away draws at West Brom and Crystal Palace, while they lost at home to Sheffield United and also failed to beat Fulham at Old Trafford.
Jadon Sancho recorded eight goals and 11 assists in 26 Bundesliga games last term and when Man Utd are struggling to open the door, the plan is that the 21-year-old will be able to force a way through.
Making the difference in big games
Solskjaer’s United have made substantial progress in the last couple of years but they are yet to win any silverware, despite reaching a host of semi-finals in cup competitions.
Last term ended in heartbreak as they fell short in the Europa League final against Villarreal, losing on penalties after a tight 1-1 draw. Sancho, meanwhile, has proven he can make the difference on the biggest stages, even if he did fail to convert his penalty kick in the Euro 2020 final against Italy after being brought on as a very late substitute by Gareth Southgate.
Ending last season in brilliant form after recovering from a thigh injury, Sancho lit up the DFB-Pokal final with a brace in a 4-1 thumping of RB Leipzig, showing none of the nerves that have hindered United on such occasions.
United lost four semi-finals before going one step further in the Europa League. Sancho will be expected to be the final cog in the machine to start delivering those trophies for the club.
World-class wing option frees up Greenwood
Many people expected Mason Greenwood to have a breakthrough campaign in 2020-21 and seven goals from 31 Premier League appearances was slightly disappointing for the teenager.
But he spent much of the season playing on the right wing due to United’s lack of options in that area. Jadon Sancho solves that issue for Man Utd and, although Marcus Rashford’s shoulder surgery could mean he plays some games on the left early in the campaign, he will usually play on the right.
That frees up Greenwood to play centrally more often. United extending Edinson Cavani’s contract for another year was a smart move but the veteran Uruguayan should not act as a blocker for the 19-year-old. There are more than enough games to go around with United expected to compete on multiple fronts, while they could even play as a pair on occasion.
Greenwood is not the first striker to have been forced to play wide early in his career but it is clear he will develop into a number nine. Sancho’s signing puts him right back on that path.
Less pressure on Fernandes
United faded at the end of last season with home defeats to top-four rivals Liverpool and Leicester City part of a run of just one win from their last four league matches.
One of the main reasons for that was that Bruno Fernandes looked knackered. The playmaker has shouldered the burden of leading the Man Utd attack since the day he joined, but with Cavani now settled and Jadon Sancho signed, Solskjaer has three world-class attackers in his squad.
Fernandes will no longer feel like he has to try to do everything on his own, while Solskjaer will be empowered to give the Portugal international more rest to keep him fresher as well.
Narrowing the gap to City still looks a tough task – especially if they can land both Jack Grealish and Harry Kane – but Sancho can help United to make major strides again this season.
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